Christian is an environmental reporter with The Alligator, and studies journalism at the University of Florida. He is a fourth-year student who prefers to spend his free time trying new and random things, cooking, reading, watching TV, or hiking.
Bird fatalities at UF's Newins-Ziegler Hall could decrease soon, after modifications including bird-friendly decals were applied to the building’s windows Sept. 22.
A second Alachua City Commission meeting confused residents Monday after the meeting was abruptly cancelled because three commission members, including Mayor Walter Welch, weren’t present.
Peach, a 6-year-old beagle, was once just called “CTU-9,” the number she was assigned at Ridglan Farms, a now-closed beagle breeding and research facility in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin. Peach’s former identification is tattooed on her right ear. A tattoo across her stomach reads “WIAE,” which stands for Wisconsin Animal Experiment, a standard practice at animal testing facilities.
Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward set a goal of conserving an additional 1,000 acres of land before he leaves office in 2031. Ward said he and his colleagues are always looking for new land to conserve. The city has acquired nearly 2,000 acres over the past nine years, but finding another 1,000 could prove challenging as Gainesville simultaneously tries to address housing shortages.
An Alachua City Commission meeting Monday erupted into chaos after a passionate discussion about data center development in the city. At the beginning of the discussion on data centers, Alachua Vice Mayor Jennifer Ringersen made a motion for a 12-month pause on all data center development within the city, meaning no new permits would be issued to developers looking to build data centers during that time.
UF’s chapter of Turning Point USA organized a one-year anniversary vigil for conservative political activist and TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk. The vigil drew in a crowd of about 150 supporters, opponents and neutrals.
People who spent Labor Day weekend at a Florida spring may have noticed things looked and felt a little different. Experts and activists warn that many of Florida’s springs are under threat. Drought, overpumping of the Floridan aquifer and urban developments have been detrimental to the health of the waterways, with one popular spring, Poe Springs, closed to visitors this Labor Day weekend due to low water flow.
Three wildfires threatened Gainesville’s city limits in the spring. Smoke clogged the air, and State Route 26, North Main Street, state Route 121 and the surrounding regions were impacted by road closures and forced evacuations. The blazes, which sparked fear and confusion among residents but may ultimately benefit the ecosystem, point to shifting weather patterns as the county nears a year of drought conditions.
Florida’s 2026 primary election results are in, with just over 25% of Florida’s registered voters turning out to vote in Aug. 18’s election. Because Florida is a closed primary state, only registered members of political parties could vote in the primary election. The state has about 5.6 million registered Republicans, 4 million registered Democrats and 3.3 million registered with no party affiliation.
Protesters gather outside UF's Veterinary Hospital to make a stand against animal violence, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
A sign marks Poe Springs closed for swimming, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.
Solutions by The State News
